Thursday, October 15, 2015

Review: Will a Sunlight Lamp Help SAD Disorder?

If you suffer from seasonal depression, known as SAD or seasonal affective disorder, then this is a very important question for you. My review is based on my experience, and I am not a medical professional. Your results may vary, but here's what I've discovered while using a sunlight lamp to help with SAD disorder.

The author's sunlight lamp.

The lamp in the picture is the sunlight lamp that I've used on my desk in my home office for several years now - and I love it. It helps improve my seasonal depression (SAD disorder) during fall and winter (also referred to as the winter blues). It also provides excellent lighting at my desk while I'm working all year round.

The sunlight desk lamp gives off light that is soft and natural, not harsh and hard on my eyes. I don't claim to fully understand the scientific explanation, but the light from this lamp simulates the colors of natural light, so that the light produced appears similar to sunlight. It's a cool sunlight, though, so don't worry about the lamp producing heat. Mine stays on for hours every day, stays cool and does not heat up the area around it. Instead, during the daytime it balances the light I work in (the lamp is on my left and I'm fortunate to have a big window on my right). When it's dark outside, the lamp provides all the light I need across my workspace.

Don't confuse a sunlight lamp with a sun lamp; a full-spectrum sunlight lamp won't give you a tan. While there are claims that a full-spectrum lamp helps produce vitamin D in our bodies, I'm skeptical of that. Don't stop your supplement if you take one. However, having a good amount of natural light most definitely puts me in a better mood. Like many others, I suffer to some degree from seasonal depression (or SAD disorder) and having plenty of soft "sunlight" to work in most definitely lifts my spirits during the winter months. I've used this lamp long enough to know that that claim is absolutely true, at least for me, and I would recommend using this lamp if you suffer effects of seasonal depression or live in a low-light latitude.

Inexpensive to Operate, Long-Life Light Bulb

The official light output of the sunlight lamp is 150 watts though it only uses 27 watts of energy. In other words, it's inexpensive to operate.

The bulb life is 10,000 hours and, while I haven't measured the exact hours, I've used my current lamp for over four years and just recently replaced the bulb. Given that the light is on for many hours most days, I'd say the bulb probably lived up to its long-life promise.

Other Features of the Sunlight Lamp That I Like

The touch on/off switch. My previous lamp had a toggle switch (we lost that lamp in a fire) and when I ordered this one I didn't even realize it had a touch switch. What a happy accident! I really enjoy being able to just touch the switch to turn the light on.

The lamp looks nice. It's not a decorative lamp meant for a fancy living room, but it's sleek, nice-looking, and looks pretty as well as professional on my desk.

The small footprint. The lamp does not take up a lot of space on the desk. The base is about 8 inches long and 6.5 inches wide.

The height is adjustable. My lamp is adjusted to about the highest point I can get it, about 18 inches high. That works for me. Occasionally I'll want to contain the light a bit, so I'll lower it by pivoting the lamp at the neck and adjusting the top. It's simple to move and stays put nicely at any height.

It only moves when I want it to. The lamp doesn't slide on the desk though I can pick it up and move it easily if necessary. I like that it doesn't slide. It's also heavy enough that it doesn't tip.

It's also available as a floor lamp, which would be absolutely perfect for people who do hand crafts. Placing the sunlight floor lamp next to your comfy craft chair would be a wonderful idea! (Think "gift idea"!)

So, Will a Sunlight Lamp Help SAD Disorder?

Based on my personal use, I do believe that the sunlight lamp helps improve seasonal depression, but I'm not a doctor so if SAD disorder is a problem for you, seek out a professional opinion. Or order a sunlight lamp and try it for yourself.

Do you use a full-spectrum sunlight lamp? For SAD disorder or just as a nice desk lamp? Feel free to share your comments about how you like it.

P.S. Replacement bulbs for the Sunlight lamp are sold on the product page or pick one up at your local Walmart.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.

About This Contributor

Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.

12 comments:

Susan, I have two sunlight lamps. One on my desk, as you do, and one in the living room next to my crafting area. The light is a perfect supplement for close-up craft work. I couldn't manage without it, especially at night. Good review.

You definitely got my attention when you mentioned the floor lamp for crafters. I have a terrible time finding the right light these days. The desk lamp would be great on any desk and it sounds like the perfect student lamp too! Anything that improves my mood would be a welcome relief to everyone in our home.

In my old office I replaced all the fluorescent lamps in the ceiling with full spectrum sun light bulbs and everyone who came in remarked how they loved the feeling in the room and it made them feel cheerful, etc and no one knew why. So I know for sure that sun lamps work! Glad you reminded me I need to buy a couple for here in Ireland where we have a long Winter of darkness with only 6 hours of sunlight a day.

Oh, Heather, I can't imagine surviving on just six hours of sunlight a day, but I know there are millions of people who do. So good to know that other people could tell a difference in the office lighting, too. Hope you can brighten up your home with a sunlight lamp or two very soon!

I will have to look into this. I don't suffer from SAD here in California, but this house has terrible lighting. I need more natural light than I'm getting, and I also need one that doesn't use much energy. This sounds like a solution. Great review.

Susan, I wonder if these are similar to 'Daylight Bulbs'? Although I don't have SAD (sorry you cope with this) - I have daylight bulbs in our main washroom - would love one of these lamps - adding it to my wish list!

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